Moving has been a slow process for Kevin Vaughn.

As of August 3 he had one box filled with mementos -- photos of his family, memories from his two years as a vice principal at Oswalt elementary School in the Rowland Unified School District -- still on a chair waiting for some attention.

There was little time to unpack that Monday. It was his very first day as principal of Central Elementary School in Rancho Cucamonga. But for Vaughn, his new post with the Central School District is more of a homecoming than a change.

"I live around here," he said. "I've wanted to work in Rancho Cucamonga, and I finally got the chance."

He started his teaching career locally as an instructor in the Ontario-Montclair School District, where he taught for more than 6 years.

He grew up in the area, and as a boy attended Elderberry Elementary, Vernon Middle and Chaffey High School. Friends he had when he was in school now have children in Central School District. And some of those children are enrolled at Central Elementary.

Most of the friends he grew up with are pleased -- they had been aware that he had been up for a position within the district. Vaughn said he also was surprised to be hired for a post in a district where he was not employed.

"It takes a lot of faith," he said.

But Vaughn felt a good connection between himself and Central School District board members who interviewed him. After he was given the position, he was told his personality and his qualifications were taken into consideration, according to comments they made to him, he said.

Vaughn hopes his students and staff will see in him what board members saw: an enthusiastic educator who feels a deep sense of responsibility toward his students -- and as someone with a sense of humor, he said.

He loves being around the children and being as hands-on as time permits.

"I like to greet them in the morning." He said. "It's special for the kids. You can tell that they really appreciate it."

In September he will get to meet all his staff and students. Earlier this month he had met only a handful of teachers who dropped in to welcome him. He had also met some of the children attending the summer school program at the school.

But throughout August, he was planning on getting himself acclimated, finishing cleaning out his office at his old Rowland School District post and making the preparations for the big day.

"I plan to visit all the classrooms and meet the kids," he said of his plans for the first day.

For parents, there will be a morning reception to welcome the new principal on the first day of classes.